Another view of the two towers, looking from the North at the rear of
the transmitter and machine buildings.

A view of the side of the transmitter building and machine halls
looking from the East

The guy wires of the West Mast can be seen on the right of this
photograph

Instead of
transmitters being found behind these entrance doors, visitors in 2004
will find a visitor attraction called TROPIQUARIA and a small radio
museum!

The large transmitter hall, which
once housed the transmitters of the BBC National and West Regional
Programme transmitters, was converted into a tropical visitor attraction
in 1989. Inside it is very warm and humid of course with the heat
being supplied from the transmitters in adjacent rooms. All manner
of species can be found including parrots and many other colourful
birds, snakes, including a boa-constrictor, marmoset monkeys, lizards,
fish, frogs, toads and spiders. There is even a tarantular that
visitors can handle!! Did you know that
every year a spider sheds its skin and produces a brand new fresh
appearance, and that a tarantula can live up to thirty years! Ouside are more
animals including, among many others, lemurs, peacocks, ostriches, and a
pair of lively and very amusing otters.

Two of the parrots.

The parrot on the left
has lost its chest feathers. She had been kept as a pet, but the
owner had been unable to look after her adequately and as a result the
parrot and suffered periods of loneliness. Parrots like company
and due to her boredom she picked out her feathers from the follicles,
and they may never all grow back.

She is much happier now that she has been rescued by the Tropiquaria
centre, both of these parrots love the attention of visitors.

A Tarantula that visitors can handle!

Also at the centre is the BBC Radio Museum

Visitors can see plans of
the Washford site and read a history of its development. There is
also a real Marconi transmitter on display that was once used by the BBC
to transmit Radio One until 1985 from Moorside Edge site.
Additionally there is a collection of technical equipment including old
BBC microphones, recording equipment and jack fields and an extensive
collection of antique radio sets dating back to the 1930's. Well
worth a visit!